Chapter 18: So Embarrassing

Yuetang suspected he had returned to divorce her. After all, they had registered their marriage with the authorities, and failing to sever ties completely would always leave hidden risks.

Since she had once promised him that she would let him go once she had a child, and now that the child was here, he naturally seemed less hurried.

Forcing a bitter melon from a twisted vine was a futile endeavor; though she did not know if this child was a boy or a girl, Yuetang thought it over repeatedly and decided to let him go.

If the Emperor eventually insisted that she bear a son to inherit the title, she could simply find another husband later.

To her surprise, he stayed. With all the preparations for childbirth completed at Bieye, Yuetang had no opportunity to escape, forcing her to give birth in the village cottage.

While she was inside the room huffing and puffing through the labor, he was outside, pacing back and forth like a wild beast.

She thought he would bring up the divorce after the baby's one-month celebration, but he didn't. Instead, within that month, he learned how to change diapers.

Seeing that her sixteenth birthday was approaching and the matter had to be settled, she prepared to lay her cards on the table on the day of the child's hundred-day celebration.

Unexpectedly, he went out that day.

He did not return even by nightfall.

Thus, Yuetang left behind a wooden box containing a farewell letter, stating that she would never disturb him again for the rest of her life.

There was also a divorce decree, ten thousand taels in banknotes, and the deeds to a garden in Gusu and several prime waterfront shops.

These were to serve as the purchase price for Ali.

The chapter regarding A-Qi was now closed.

Now, all she knew was that the child she had poured so much blood and sweat to bring into the world had died due to the Du family's conspiracy—died at the hands of the Zhang and He families!

She wanted to slaughter Zhang Shaode!

She wanted to find her imperial seal!

She wanted to destroy the Marquis of Guangling's manor!

She quickened her pace, soon leaving Lanqin behind, sprinting through the alleys toward their residence at the other end!

...

"Twelve copper coins! If you want it, sir, ten will do."

The stall owner flatteryingly picked out a new rattle drum for Yan Bei.

Yan Bei produced a piece of broken silver and bought five in total, including those for Ali's playmates.

Ali was gradually becoming more aware of the world and always envied the children playing outside. Yan Bei did not allow him to go out, instead having married guards bring children into the manor to accompany him day and night.

He needed five rattle drums and five portions of pastries—and they had to be from the Baoshan Hall.

As for why he was coming out to buy them personally?

Because Ali had recently learned how to play "house" and had begun to envy the common children who had their fathers buy them gifts personally.

After boarding the carriage, he rested his chin on his hand, watching the street. After a few steps, the carriage stopped.

A guard knocked on the carriage wall and entered with a bow: "Reporting to His Highness, the Du family has indeed run into some troublesome matters. They have two deputy envoys who are fourth-rank generals in the imperial court; the families are in-laws. However, one of the families was involved in a violent crime yesterday, but the victim's wife, who was initially implicated, has since been cleared of suspicion.

"Before the investigation is even complete, new evidence of murder was found near the deceased's sister-in-law.

"That sister-in-law was sent to prison by both families yesterday, only to unexpectedly accuse her father-in-law of misconduct in jail. The Marquis's manor has been busy cleaning up the mess for this family all afternoon."

Yan Bei withdrew his gaze from the retreating figure of the woman sprinting through the alley: "Misconduct of what nature?"

"It hasn't been explicitly stated, but it seems to be related to the incident involving Princess Yongjia, who was ambushed by bandits in the outskirts of the capital three years ago."

"Princess Yongjia?" Yan Bei lowered his hand. "What exactly was said?"

"The Princess was not mentioned by name, only the incident in the outskirts of the capital last July. Many major events occurred in July three years ago, but regarding the outskirts of the capital, there is only the matter of Princess Yongjia's death."

Yan Bei unfurled his folding fan, waving it slowly a few times, then said: "Was it not confirmed to be the work of refugees? I recall the scene was a mess, many people died, and the weapons were of all varieties. Was it not?"

"It was refugees. After the late Emperor's passing, the court finally stabilized. Both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager in the palace issued orders to investigate several times, and all confirmed it was the work of bandits."

The fan in Yan Bei's hand moved even slower.

"Since it was the work of bandits, then the Liu clan's claims are purely a frame-up for blackmail?"

The guard hesitated before saying: "Your Highness, I cannot be certain if that is the case. However, just half an hour ago, General Wude himself died. According to servants fleeing from the He family, he died at the hands of his mad wife, who has been mentally broken following the recent loss of their son."

"Oh?"

The person in the alley had already vanished from sight. Yan Bei withdrew his gaze from the empty lane: "What is this General Wude's name?"

"He Jianzhong." Seeing the blank look in Yan Bei's eyes, the guard added, "The He family is an obscure household in the capital; it is only natural that Your Highness would not recognize them."

In the past, Yan Bei only listened to street rumors for novelty and never meddled, especially in the affairs of the Marquis of Guangling's manor, which he refused to touch even slightly.

The guard assumed this time would be no different and bowed to withdraw.

However, Yan Bei used his fan to stop him: "So many people dying, each in their own way, like a chain of events—it is not normal. Go listen for further developments and report back to me properly."

The guard dismounted.

Yan Bei turned to look at the alley once more before lowering the carriage curtain.

The young woman running in that alley had a very slender waist; she would surely be quite supple.

Judging by her back alone, she seemed to be about seventy or eighty percent as graceful as Ali's mother.

"Your Highness, the two dancers that Lord Chu wanted to send over previously also had very supple waists."

Only when this voice rang clearly in his ear did Yan Bei suddenly remember that the official of morals, Cui Xun, was also in the carriage.

He looked up.

Cui Xun sat on the footstool with his hands clasped, wearing a look of understanding and a smile: "The young Prince is already over three years and four months old. If Your Highness feels the loneliness of the long nights, it is only reasonable."

Not only were there singers and dancers sent as gifts every now and then, but the Ministry of Rites had already submitted several memorials requesting the Emperor to select a Princess Consort for Yan Bei, yet he had never given even a hint of interest.

To be able to stare at a woman's lower back for so long today was truly quite an achievement.

Yan Bei's brows twitched.

What was he saying?

No, wait—what was he just thinking?

He was having lewd thoughts about a passing woman's waist.

What was happening?

He actually had such wicked thoughts!

He hadn't even seen her face!

How shameful.

He slowly averted his gaze, waving his fan in a proper and solemn manner: "If I remember correctly, the duty of the Prince's official of morals is to 'guide thought and rectify behavior'—'dancers'?"

Cui Xun immediately slapped his own mouth: "This subordinate deserves death!"

Yan Bei said slowly, "The Shen, Mu, and Chu families are forming factions everywhere.

"Don't tell me you don't know what Chu Yi intends by sending dancers."

Under Yan Bei's righteous indignation, Cui Xun prostrated himself on the floor: "Your Highness! It is this official's mind that is too filthy! I shall copy the *Scripture of Heart Cleansing* ten times upon my return!"